26 February 2010

Bicycle Knife Sharpeners

A historical photo of two classic figures in bicycle history. Two knife sharpeners. They rode about both the countryside and the city, offering their blade sharpening services to anyone who would pay the price.

The usual setup was like the bicycle on the left. The back bicycle wheel was rigged with an external cog onto which a strap was attached so that they could sit stationary and pedal whilst sharpening knives, scissors and all manner of blades. The chap on the left as a similar but seemingly more complex system.

The last time I saw one was in the city centre about ten years ago. Parked in a courtyard behind a trendy café, he was handed knives from the chefs through the window and he would mount his bicycle and sharpen them to perfection.

Here's a more recent version from the streets of Africa. Wonderful. Thanks for the link in the comments.

As a sharpener I would like to learn how to make a device such as that shown in the video. The machine's owner evidently lives in a town where the electric grinders I use would be of little avail. Also, human-powered grinders pose less danger of damaging a knife's temper. But the video contains an evident optical illusion. The small wheel appears to be inside the large one. But if it were, then the drive-belt would stop the large wheel's spokes. M.C. Escher would have loved this film. Can anybody see just how in the name of Asherah this contraption works?

Kilometres cycled by Copenhageners so far today

Copenhagenize.com is the blog of Copenhagenize Design Company. Online since 2007 and highlighting the cycling life in Copenhagen and around the world.

40 years ago Copenhagen was just as car-clogged as anywhere else but now 41% of the population arriving at work or education do so on bicycles, from all over the Metro area. 55% of Copenhageners themselves use bicycles each day. They all use over 1000 km of bicycle lanes in Greater Copenhagen for their journeys. Copenhagenizing is possible anywhere.